Where to go in Costa Rica!

San José : Your starting point. The central valley is the heart of Costa Rica, in it among the green highlands, ample valleys and the principal cities and provinces of Costa Rica, San José, Alajuela, Cartago and Heredia. The nation´s capital, San José sits at an altitude of 3,770 feet above sea level. It offers a full range of restaurants, shopping malls, vaeried styles of accomodations, museums and a very active nightlife.

The Atlantic Zone : Comprise the Province of Limón, the central city of this province is Limón. With a rich african influence. Driving from San José takes, two and a half hours to get there. It´s paradise for ecotourist green sea turtles lay their eggs each year in tortuguero. It has good places to have a good time like Cahuita : 124 miles (200km) E of San José ; 26 miles (42km) S of Limón. and its famous National Park, a combiantion of jungle and beach. Puerto Viejo : 34 miles (55km) S of Limón. ist has a somewhat livelier atmosphere due to the many surfers who come here from around the world to ride the village´s famous Salsa Brava Wafe. For nonsurfers, there are also some good swimming beaches on this coast like Cocles and Manzanillo.

North Pacific ; Guanacaste and the Nicoya Peninsula : Most of this region is occupied by the province of Guanacaste. This vast extension holds countless beaches and picturesque towns and villages filled with an important historical and cultural heritage. The city of Liberia : 134 ½ miles (217km) NW of San José. is the capital of Guanacaste Province. Guanacaste is the cradle of costarican folklore. In this region the rainy season starts later and ends earlier here, it is the driest region in the country. Some hotels are :

Hotels from $60+tax.

Central Pacific : This region is home to some of the most easily accessible beaches in Costa Rica, They range from Puntarenas (71 miles -115km W of San Jose) to Dominical beach (99 miles – 160km. S of San José). You will find some some of Costa Rica´s most popular beaches and National Parks, like Jacó beach (72 miles – 117 km. W of San José) if you want a beach not so far from San José where you can spend a week in the sun, Jacó continues to be the top choice. After Jacó, you will find the most popular place of the pacific coast Manuel Antonio and Quepos Beach (43 miles – 69 km. Of Jacó Beach) not other destination in Costa Rica has received more international attention than Manuel Antonio and Quepos, the beaches are idyllic, and its jungles are full of wild life and exotic birds. Afther those beaches you will find Dominical Beach (26 miles – 42 km. S of Manuel Antonio and Quepos). The beach at Dominical itself has both right and left beach breaks, wich means there are usually plenty of surfers in town, the area is amazing, you will find isolated beaches, and vegetation.

Hotels from $70+tax. double room.

Southern : It is one of the country´s most beautiful and wild areas, you will see primary forest, mountains and isolates beaches, you must to have plenty of time and a desire of adventure if you want to explore this region. Some of the most popular places are : Golfito (209 miles –337 km. S of San José), a place for sportfishing and botanical gardens. Puerto Jiménez (21 ½ miles – 35 km W of Golfito. Located on the southeasthern of the Osa Peninsula, the primary reason to coming here is the Corcovado National Park, this park is home of the 5% of the biodiverity of the world.Another good places are Playa Zancudo and Pavones (22 miles – 35 km S of Golfito)Those beaches are long and flat, and beacuse are protected from the full force of pacific waves, are good for swimmimg and Pavones is a good option for surfers, on the way you will see the town of Paso Canoas, the border of Panamá (350 km. Of San José), it´s a good place for shopping and cheap places to eat.

Hotels from $70+tax. per night.

Northern Plains ; Arenal and Monteverde

The northern zone, roughly defined here as the area north of San José and between Guanacates province on the west and the lowlands of the caribbean coast on the east, is a naturalist´s drean come true. The best places to go there are : Arenal Volcano and la Fortuna (87 miles – 140 km. NW. of San José), if you´ve never experienced it firsthand, the sight and sound of an active volcano erupting is awesome. Lying at the eastern foot of this natural spectacle is the tiny farming community of La Fortuna. In recent years, this town has become a center for volcano-watchers from around the world. In addition you will relax in the hot spring waters of the hotels around the Volcano. If you love the ecotourism you have to visit Monteverde (103 miles – 167 km. NW. Of San José). There are rain forests and clod forests, jungle rivers and a unbelievable diversity of birds and other wildlife. There are a lot of things to do and to see, Canopy Tour, Horseback Riding, Bird Watching, Tree Top Walkways, Butterflies observatory and much more.

I used to live in CR.It's a mediocre destination with awful food that's crawling with thieves of all varieties.There are many many more more interesting/cheaper places with better food and more honest people.